Angela Nikolau and Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus, the daredevil couple featured in Netflix’s Skywalkers: A Love Story, were arrested after scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna in New York City.
The stunt unfolded around midday on July 1, when two people dressed in black climbed to the top of the landmark’s spire, which rises 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan. Footage from news helicopters showed the pair standing near the top of the antenna while holding a black banner with white text reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
The pair appeared not to be tethered as they balanced on the narrow structure, kissed, took selfies, and began climbing down to a wider ledge shortly after 12:30 PM. Once there, one of the climbers appeared to get down on one knee before the pair hugged and kissed again.
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Skywalkers stars climbed Empire State Building for proposal
The climbers were identified as Nikolau and Beerkus, after the couple posted photos from the climb on Instagram. Beerkus proposed to Nikolau at the top of the building while Nikolau wore a black cat mask, leading to immediate Catwoman comparisons online. Both were taken into custody without incident after returning to the ground, with charges pending.
Police took the two climbers into custody after 1 PM, and no injuries were reported. It remains unclear how they accessed the antenna, which sits far above the building’s public areas.
Nikolau and Beerkus are known for “rooftopping,” a dangerous form of urban climbing that often involves sneaking into skyscrapers and climbing them without tools or safety gear. Netflix’s Tudum describes the couple as renowned rooftoppers who travel the world climbing some of the tallest buildings on Earth.
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BREAKING: Two people have climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City, holding a banner from the skyscraper's antenna reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
As of now it's unclear how the pair reached the top of the… pic.twitter.com/rUPZ6nc1eK
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 1, 2026
Their relationship and extreme climbs were the focus of Netflix’s 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, directed by Jeff Zimbalist and Maria Bukhonina. The film follows the couple as they balance their romance with their dangerous profession, including illegally scaling one of the world’s tallest buildings for an acrobatic stunt.
